ACP’s Stanton takes helm of MPA as Parkes joins staff
Australia’s major magazine publishers look set to try again to work together to promote the medium after a couple of years of near inactivity.
Magazine Publishers Australia has announced former Freeview head Robin Parkes as executive director. It follows a long period without the MPA having staff following the departure of Helen Kingsmill about two years ago.
Meanwhile Pacific Magazines boss Nick Chan has handed the chairmanship of the MPA to ACP boss Matt Stanton. Last year Chan acknowledged: “We’ve done a shit job of actually branding our medium.”
The MPA executive is made up of the CEOs of the three largest magazine publishers: Chan, Stanton and Nicole Sheffield of NewsLifeMedia. Stanton told Mumbrella: “Hiring Robin is our biggest investment. This is a statement of intent from us. There are misquotes and misunderstandings about how strong magazines are – we need to get the message of how engaging the are for consumers.
The MPA is also a member of Publishers Australia which represents Australi’s smaller and niche magazine publishers. Magazine Publishers Australia (MPA) gained representation on the PA board last year.
MPA and PA had collaborated on last year’s Magazine Awards.
Stanton said in a press release: “Robin’s appointment signifies a joint commitment to revitalising the MPA which has not had official leadership for the past few years. In my new role as chair, I look forward to working with Robin in developing an enhanced market presence for the MPA and an improved collective message about the robust Australian magazine publishing industry.”
Parkes was at Freeview, the free to air television organisation, for three years. She was previously part of marketing and communications agency network STW group as well as a year long stint as the chief operating officer at a large law firm. Parkes starts her role later this month.
The best way of “branding our medium” would be to launch new and exciting magazines. The layoffs, the closures, the plummeting circs and readerships do nothing to reassure anybody.
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